Tuyere damper



H. E. PRESTON Jan. 22, 1935,

TUYRE DAMPER Filed March 21 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet l w N m@ H. E. PRESTON TUYRE DAMPER Jan. 22, 19;;5.

'.7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21 1928 ZMS A Hof-nays n lm Pv r r w P @E v m n e im w X n i l-- I w om. hm Mm, .w mw m, m Q Nw mm, mm mm m@ n f 1 w n v l /mw Il/. |I mw ik ,w Q \\-\/\/NMH Umm\ l-; n f mm @M /wm, mmm Nm ww mm m@ UL *111% l l vw kn 3\ Q m Jan. 22, 1935. HI E, PRESTON 1,989,024

TUYBE DAMPER Filed March 2l, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 22, 1935.

H, E. PRESTON 1,989,024

TUYRE DAMPER Filed March 21, 1928 7f Sheets-Sheet 4 IO GN Jan. 22, 1935. H. E. PRESTON TUYRE DAMPER Fiied March 21, 192s Y Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 22, 1935. H. E. PRESTON 4TUYRE DAMPER AFiled: March 21, 1928 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Regs m Jan. 22, 1935. H. E. PRESTON TUYRE DAMPER 7 sheets-sheet 'l Filed March 2l, 1928 y his Attorneys Patented Jan. 22, 1935 lUNITED-STATESv PATENTv` OFFICE i' s 1,989,024` i TYRE DAMPER `Imbert E.) Prestn, 'rhiladelphia Pa., assignmto American Engineering Company,.Philadel phia, Pa., a,` corporation of Pennsylvania Y Application March 21, 192s,seria1No.zs3,31s

` 10 claims'. (o1. 11o-44) My invention relates to stokers, and it has for one object the provision of simple and eiiicient air-control means therefor. f

Another object of my invention is to provide stoker air-control means that is particularly applicable to relatively long stokers.

Still another object of my invention is to provide air-control means for the tuyre chamber of a stoker, permitting a variable air supply to different portions of the tuyre chamber. Such control is desirable in long stokers, more especially, those having low boiler ratings, since it permits the control of the air supply over the entire fuel bed, with resulting increased eiciency in furnace combustion conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide stoker apparatus' comprising a tuyre chamber, a plurality of tuyres mounted on one side of the chamber, and a plurality of pivoted damper elements constituting at least a portion of another side of the' tuyre chamber, whereby the air supply to the tuyre chamber may be controlled.

A still further object ofrmy invention-is 'to provide air-control vapparatus of the character described having manually-adjustable means so positioned that approximately one-half` of the dampers may be controlled from one side of the furnace and the other half from the other side.

With these and other objects and applications in mind, my invention further consists inthe details of construction and operation and arrangement, hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsectional view of a furnace embodying my invention, the sectional plane being taken on the line 1--1V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a partial bottornjplan view ofthe stoker of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through one of the tuyre chambers, thevsectionalplane being taken on fthe line 3'-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail, vertical sectional viewvthrough' one of the side wallsof the'furnace and adjacent stoker portions, with` certainof the Stoker de` tails omitted, the sectional plane being taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;`

Fig. 5 is a similar view through the opposite furnace side wall;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figs. 4 and 5, showing the mounting ofthe damper operating shafts in the central portion of the stoker;

' Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of yone of the damper plates of Fig. 1, looking respectively from the top and bottomthereof Fig. 9 is anfenlarged detail view of one of the exteriorly mounted supporting stands for the damper operating hand-wheels, a portion of one of the stands being broken away to illustrate the indicating mechanism;

Fig. 10 is avertical sectional view taken on th line`10-10'of Fig. 9; and

Figs. 11 andI 12 are enlarged detail, side and end elevational views of the damper actuating shafts and the exteriorly positioned stands.

Thefrelatively short 4stokers now in use have functioned satisfactorily with' air-control means of the single damper ftypep l Such air-control means, however, is not adaptable to'the stoker described in myy co-pending application Serial No. 263,900,1ed March 22, 1928, and assigned to the American Engineering Company, which is characterized, y among other things, by its extremely long length. As a result, Vin order to obtain eilcient combustion in-the vfurnace, it has beenk necessary to develop an `entirely new form of' air-control, wherein a relatively lvariable air supply is airorded the diierent portions of the furnace. One solution of the problem is shown in the drawings, wherein a furnace 1 is' provided with an inclined, multiple-retort stoker 2 of the underfeed, Vforced-draft type. The stoker 2 extends from a front wall 3 rearwardly and downwardly, and it comprises a plurality of series of inclined tuyre chambersv or boxes 4 and a corresponding plurality of series ofA retorts 5, alternating therewith. A sufficient number ofseries of tuyre chambers 4 and retorts 5 is provided to extend across the width of the furnace 1, between side Walls 6 and '1.r f

In accordance'with my invention, each tuyre box 4 comprises ay pair of relatively wide, spaced, steel side-plates 8 and 9 which vextend rearward- 1y andv downwardly from supporting plates 11 which are anchored in the furnace front wall- 3. The steel plate-9 also constitutes a sidewall for the adjacent retort 5, while the opposite steel plate 8 also serves as a side wall for the next ad-- jacent retort 5, as fshown in Fig. 2,. A seriesof tuyres 12 are positioned to form an upper side 13 of each tuyre chamber 4, being removably mounted on cast-iron plates 14 detachably secured to upper edge portions 15 of the steel sideA plates by bolts 16.v The tuyres 12 are mounted on the detachable cast-iron plates 14, rather than directlyron the steel side plates 8 and 9,inasmuch as the lupper side 13 of the tuyre box vis subjected tointense heat, with resulting rapid deterioration orv burning `of the tuyresupporting wherein combustion is most active; and a rear-V zone 19, wherein combustion is'less rapid and the fuel bed becomes thinner; I provide means whereby correspondingly positioned. groups of tuyres 21, 22 and 23 which together constitute each series of `tuyres, may be supplied with relatively variable amounts of air. To this end, each of the tuyre chambers 4 isftransversely divided, by means of cross plate members 24,25 and 26, which extend between the steel side plates 8 and 9, into a plurality of' chamber portions 27, 28and 29 which are in operative relationfto the tuyre groups 21, 22 and 23, respectively.

The supply of air to each of the chamber portions 27, 28 and 29 from an air box 31, which is positioned directly under the stoker 2,:mayvbe independently controlledby a plurality of damper groups 32, 33 and34. 'Ihese damper groups are respectively i positioned vbetween the side plates 8 and 9 in the lower side of the chamber portions 27, 28 and 29,. Thedamper groups 32, 33 and 34 thus constitutefa bottom wall of each of the tuyre chambers orboxes 4. i

One form of damper` 35,-which maybe use in the groups 32,33 and 34, is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, comprising a substantially, fiat plate 36 having a width slightly less `than that of the tuyre chamber 4 and a length depending upon the number of dampers to beused in each group. The upper side 37 of each ldamper 36 is provided with a transversely recessed portion v38 which forms a curved 'shoulder 39` 'extending downwardly from;v the underside41. The end portions of the recess 38 are provided with side bearings 42 and 43 for ends 44 and 45 of a pivot pin 46. The ends 44 and 45 of the pivot pin-46 are. extended beyondy sideedges 47 and 48 of the plate 36 into bearings49- and v51 provided in the side plates 9 and 8, respectively, g p

A pair of longitudinally extending `ribs 52 and 53 are mounted on the upper side 37 of the plate 36 immediately adjacent to thebearing portions 42 and 43, respectively. A similar pair of rein-` forcing ribs 54and 55y are positioned directly below the ribs V52 and 5,3 on the underside 41 of the plate. Each of these ribs is providedwith beveled portions 56 and 5,7 which taper oifintothe pivot plate 36. The underside 41 ofthe pivot plate36 is provided with a rearwardlyextending, angled lever arm 58,- which is slotted'to receive an ac tuating link 59 and apertured to receive a pivot pin 61, the latter also extending through the link 59 for reasons as will presently appear., The weight of the plate 36 with its lever arm 58 is such that the damper as a whole is balanced,`

thereby requiring a minimumjoperating effort.

The front damper group 32 comprises three dampers 35 which are so mounted vthat a front edge of one damper plate 36 overlaps a rear edge of the nextadjacent plate. The front edge of the front damper -plate 36 abuts against an inwardly of,4 the plate 63 is provided with spacedside f the intermediate group 33 abuts against the transverse member 24. when in the closed position of Fig. 1, while the rear edge of the rear damper plate of this group abuts against the secondtransverse plate 25. The rear edge of the rear damper plate of the front group 32 also abuts against the cross member 24 when closed. The front and rear damper plates of the rear group 34 similarly engage the cross members 25 and 26 when in the position of Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, thedamper groups 32, 33 and 34 of each tuyre box 4 'are respectively connected to the links 59. The links 59 are connected by links 65, 66 and 67 to lever arms 68, 69 and 71 mounted on cross shafts 72,73 and 74, respectively. The shafts 72, 73 and 74 are supported by bearings secured to the base portion of a U- shape bracket 75, legs 76 and 77 of which are bolted, or otherwise secured, to one of the steel side plates. porting bracket 75 is provided for every third steel side plate.

When the stoker is of relatively large width, it is desirable to divide the control means in half, operating one-half from each side of the furnace. This necessitates the dividing of the transverse damper-actuating shafts, as shown in Fig. 6, into two groups 78 and 79, the group 78 comprising shafts 8l, 82 and 83, while the group 79 comprises shafts 84, 85 and 86.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the shafts 81, 82 and 83 maybe extended through the furnace side wall 6 toa supporting framework 89 for vertical shafts 91, 92 and 93. The horizontal shafts 81, 82 and83 and the vertical shafts 91, 92 and 93 are provided with coacting worm-and-wheel devices 94, 95 and 96, the worm in each instance being'mounted on the vertical shafts. The vertical shafts 91,v 92r and 93 extend upwardly through a floor 97, the shafts 91 and 93 passing through legs v98 and 99 of ahollow U-shaped standard 101, while the shaft 92 passes through a central base portion thereof. Each of the vertical shafts terminates at its upper end in a hand-wheel 102.

In order that theoperator may know the position of the dampersin each transverse group, indicatorsv 103, 104 and. 105 are associated with the vertical shafts 91, 92 and 93, respectively. Each indicator comprises a threaded sleeve portion i106, which is rigidly secured to the vertical shaft, and a nut portion 107 which is provided WithI a pointer 108 extending through a slotted plate 109 `mountedvon` the standard 101. The arrangementvis such that, when the pointers 108 are at the upper end of a slot 111 of the indicator plate 109, the dampers 35 are fully opened, but when at the bottom of the slot 111 the dampers 35 are fully closed as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite shafts 84, 85 and 86- are similarly connected to an exteriorly positioned control standard 112 provided withv hand-wheels 113 and indicating means 114.

When it is desired to adjust the upper damper groups 32 in order to increase the air supplied to the tuyre chamber portions 27 from the air box As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the sup- Hilde-,16:24

31, the hand-wheels associated Awith the shafts 81' and 84 are turned until the indicators show that the desired adjustment has been effected. If one-half only of the upper group 32 is to-'be adjusted, then the hand-wheel -associated `with the proper control shaft is turned. Similarly, when it is desired to actuate theY groups 33 or 34, the hand-wheels therefor are operated, and if one-half only of Y each-of these groups is to be moved, then the hand-wheels associated `with the proper shafts are actuated. In'this Way, the air supplied to the tuyre groups 21, 22 and '23 and associated fuel portions 17, 18 and 19, respectively, may be independently adjusted and a flexibility of air control obtained which results in high'- ly eiiicient combustion conditions in the furnace.

Itis apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the hereindescribed devices, without departing from the spiritof my invention and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as 'are' demanded by the prior art. v

1. A Stoker comprising a plurality of flat beams arranged in spaced vertical planes to deiinethe sides of alternate tuyre and retort' chambers, tuyre elements supported on said beamsja'nd bridging the tops of the tuyre chambers, an air supply chamber at the bottoms of said jtuyre chambers, a plurality of damper elements adjustably mounted at the lower edges of said beams and the bottoms of the tuyre chambers and extending in substantially continuous series the entire length of the latter, said series of `damper elements being divided longitudinally into a plurality of groups, and means for independently actuating the dampers of certain of said groups independently of the dampers of other groups.

2. A stoker comprising a plurality of flat beams arranged in spaced vertical planes to dene the sides of alternate tuyre and retort chambers, tuyre elements supported on said beams and bridging the tops of the tuyre chambers, an air supply chamber at the bottoms of said tuyre chambers, partitions dividing said tuyre chambers transversely into a plurality of compartments, and a plurality of damper elements adjustably mounted at the lower edges or said beams and the bottoms of the tuyre chambers and extending in continuous series the entire length of each of said compartments, and means for adjusting the dampers of certain of said compartments independently of the dampers of other compartments.

3. A stoker comprising a plurality of flat beams arranged in spaced vertical planes to dene the sides of alternate tuyre and retort chambers, said tuyre chambers being of substantially uniform depth throughout, tuyre elements supported on said beams and bridging the tops of the tuyre chambers, an air supply chamber at the bottoms of said tuyre chambers, partitions dividing said tuyre chambers transversely into a plurality of compartments and a plurality of dampers for each compartment pivotally mounted at the lower edges of said beams and the bottoms of said tuyre chambers and extending in substantially continuous series the entire length of the latter, the individual dampers being relatively small in the radial dimension as compared with the depth of the tuyre chambers, whereby when the dampers of any compartment are open, the flow of air to the tuyre elements controlled by said dampers is substantially uniform throughout the length offthe compartment regardless of -theextent of opening of-the said dampers.

4.- Inafurnace, a stokercomprisinga plurality of nat-beams arranged spaced vertical planes to define the sides of'alternate tuyre and retort chambers, tuyre elements supported on said beams and bridging thetops of the tuyre chambers, an air supply chamber at the bottoms of said tuyre chambers, partitions dividing each tuyre chamber transversely into a plurality of corresponding'lcompartments, a plurality of dampers for each compartment adjustably mounted at the lower edges of said beams and at the bottoms of the frespective'tuyre chambers and extending in substantially 'continuous series the entire length o f thelatter, said dampers when closed overlapping to form' a substantially solid partition separating the tuyre chambers from the air supply chamber, and said dampers being relatively small and ail'ordingwhen'open a multiplicity of lsubstantiallyA 'uniformly spaced openings extending longitudinally of the-individual tuyre chambers, a plurality of shafts extending transversely below said tuyre ychambers and projecting through a side wall of `said furnace, arms on each of said shafts,'1inks operatively connecting the arms of each shaft with the dampers of each corresponding compartment of the plurality of tuyre chambers, and means at the projecting ends of said shaftsforv rocking eachof said shafts independently of the others.

' y5. An underfed Stoker comprising spaced walls defining parallel retorts, a row of tuyre blocks spanning the space between each pair of adjacent retortvwalls and extending lengthwise of the retorts,v means forming separate air passages to localizedgroups ofthe tuyres in each row, and a separate'- regula-table control device for each of said groups so that the air pressure to one of said groups may be regulated independently of that to another of the groups in the same row.

6. An underfeed stoker comprising spaced walls forming parallel retorts, a row of tuyre blocks spanning the space between each pair of adjacent retort walls and extending lengthwise of the retorts, walls forming separate air passages to localize groups of tuyres in each row, a damper to regulate the air flow in each passage independently of other passages in the same row, and connections to operate together those dampers which control the air flow to tuyre groups arranged laterally of each other, thereby forming air zones which extend at right angles to the retorts.

7. An underfeed stoker comprising spaced walls defining retorts, a row of tuyre blocks spanning the space between the walls of adjacent retorts and extending lengthwise thereof, means forming a chamber for air under pressure beneath said retorts, means forming separate air passages between adjacent retort walls leading from said air chamber to localized groups of tuyre blocks, means adjacent to one of said passages to control the air pressure therein independently of the air pressure in another of said passages in the same row, and means for operating said control means from a point outside of said air chamber.

8. An underfeed Stoker comprising walls forming spaced parallel retorts, rows of tuyre blocks mounted on said walls between the retorts and extending lengthwise thereof, means forming a chamber for air under pressure beneath said retorts, means forming independent air passages between adjacent retort walls leading from said chamber to localized groups of tuyre blocks in each row, a damper mounted adjacent to each of said passages to control the air flow therethrough, and means for controlling the position of one of said dampers from a point'outsideof said air chamber independently of another of said dampers which connected with*Y tuyre blocks in the same row.l g A:

9. A stokercomprising a plurality vof beams arranged in spaced vertical planes to define the sides of a plurality of alternate tuyre and retort chambers extending from side'to side of the furnace; tuyreelements supported on said beams and bridging ther tops of the tuyre chambers; -an air supply chamber. communicating with said tuyre chambers; partitions dividing the tuyre chambers transversely intowa plurality of compartments; damper means for each of said compartments for controlling the passage of air thereto from said supply chamber; means for-actuating the damper meansvof any of the compartments independentlyof the* damper means of the other lcompartments ofthe sametuyre chamber, said means comprising a plurality of operating elements for the damper means of the tuyre chambers adjacent one sideof. the ,furnace and operatively connected respectively with the damper means of each corresponding compartment of each of the said tuyre chambers adjacent that side of the furnace, and a plurality of operating elements for the damper means of the tuyre chambersv adjacent the opposite side of the furnace and operatively connected respectively Awith the damper means. of each corresponding compartment of' each of the said tuyre chambers adjacent thaty slide of the furnace; and means operatively connected with the respective operating elements at opposite sides of the furnace for independently operating thevdamper means of the tuyre chambers adjacentone side of said furnace independently of the damperv means of the tuyre chambers at the opposite side of said furnace,

10. A stoker comprising a plurality of beams arranged in spaced vertical planes to denne the sides of a plurality of alternate tuyre and'retort chambers extending from side to side of the furnace; tuyre elements supported on said beams and bridging the tops of the tuyre chambers; an air supply chamber att/he bottoms of said tuyre chambers; partitions dividing the tuyre chambers transversely into a plurality of compartments; a plurality ofk dampers adjustably mounted on said beams for controlling passage of air from said supply chamber to said tuyre chambers; and means lfor independently actuating as a group the dampers associated with each transverse row of compartments of the respective tuyre chambers, said means comprising a plurality of shafts extending transversely of the furnace below the tuyrechambers adjacent one side of the furnace and operatively connected respectively with corresponding groups of dampers of the tuyre chambers adjacent that side of the furnaceand a plurality of shafts extending transversely of the furnace below the tuyre chambers adjacentthe opposite side of the furnace and operatively con-v nected respectively with corresponding groups of dampers of the tuyre chambers adjacentl that side of the furnace; and means operatively connected with the Ashafts at opposite sides of the furnace for independently operating the dampers of the tuyre chambers adjacent one side of the furnace independently of the operation of the dampers of the tuyre chambers at the opposite side of the furnace.

HERBERT E. PRESTON. 

